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Tuesday, June 14, 2016

You pals know I love darling storage, and I also love crafting up anything I can to create something custom and budget friendly. Earlier this week I shared a list of beautiful baskets found on Etsy, and I actually purchased a piece for a project I am working on with a friend. Etsy really is a wonderful resource if you are looking for something unique beyond your artistic abilities, and may also be a cost effective solution when factoring supplies and time to create the item on your own. But when you have heart eyes for something high end and live on a beer budget, or just can't find the exact piece for your specific needs, that is when DIY is the way to go.

When we added our sorting baskets for the boys, I lost my delicate bin slot. The basket I had been using previously was a bit overkill anyway, as I really only used it for smaller, hand-wash only items. I also tend to toss my lingerie sacks on this shelf, so I was looking for a discreet place for those to land as well. I purchased a pom-pom making tool over a year ago with the intention of adding poms to anything and everything home related, and then never used it! After spotting the $50-$100 price tags on the infamous pom baskets that are currently floating around the design world, I knew it was time to whip out my craft supplies.

This project was about as easy as it gets, and it was the perfect excuse for me to finally watch a few episodes of The Bachelorette. I really didn't understand what all of the fuss was about, but after working on this project, I might be hooked. #newguiltypleasure

Because this was my first time using the pom making kit, I thought I would share a few tips I learned along the way.

The kit I purchased offers two pom sizes; because my basket is on the small size, I selected the smaller pom ring. To my surprise, it still produced a pretty good sized pom. I also used two different types of yarn and found that the texture really does play in the outcome. I am no yarn expert so I am not sure of specific names or types, however, the softer yarn will create a full round pom, while a stringier type will be a little more abstract. I tried out both....

To begin, I opened the pom maker arms.

Grabbing the tail of the yarn, I held it in place while I began wrapping the yarn evenly around one set of pom maker arches.

I continued to wrap the yarn back and forth until the entire arc was full. The amount of yarn used and wrapped will determine the ultimate thickness of the pom. Also, wrapping too tight might make it challenging to cut later.

Once the first arm was wrapped, I then closed it around the maker and continued with the same strand of yarn to the next arm.

I tried to keep both sides as even as possible, and once the second arm was complete, I closed things up to create a full circle and snipped the yarn.

Using a sharp pair of scissors, I cut along the grooves of the pom maker. Sharp scissors are key to not cursing or crying.

Snip another length of yarn and tie it tightly through the yarn maker groove... twice (pull as tight as you can). This will hold it all together.

Lastly, pull apart the pom maker and use the scissors to clean up any loose strings or uneven pieces.

Tada! A super fabulous pom pom!

Repeat as many times as you wish! I initially planned to alternate white and teal poms on my basket, so I created a total of five.

Above you can see how the two different yarn types yielded different results. The teal actually created a more stringy effect, while the soft white were more abundant.

To attach the poms I used a piece of thread and a needle to tie it through the basket weave.

I also added a small dot of hot glue on the inside to be sure the thread was strong enough.

As I began attaching the poms, I decided that less was more and just went with the teal color.

I can't get over the cuteness! I want to use this darling little basket everywhere! I imagine it being great for picking flowers or veggies from the garden, to store near the stairs to transport my daily belongings up and down, to tote some of my supplies to and from the car, and to hold my current books and magazines near my bed and reading chairs...

Although the uses for this gem of a basket are endless, it ultimately landed right where I intended from the start; in the laundry room.

We are still waiting on the delivery of our washer and dryer counter, but I am so ready to finish up this little room update.

Oooh! And because I am easily amused, did you know that these baskets can be used tall or short?

I had no idea until this morning! #thelittlethings

High/Low projects are always my favorites and worth celebrating. Have you crafted or DIY'd anything based on expensive inspiration lately? I would love to hear about your recent projects in the comments below!

One more oooh for today! My dear friend Cassie shared how to make poms without any fancy tool at all! You can check out her post here.

So much cuteness! I love it. One thing I've found when making poms is that if you use dental floss to tie the middles it ends up tighter and stronger than yarn (which seems to stretch). I'm off to make some pom-baskets now! Thank you for inspiration! ~k

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